UlBRARY OF CONGRESS.?' 

I -'■- t 

J [FORCE; COLLECTION.] | 



J UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. J 







Book. 




CISCO BAY. 



Generations to come ■will applaud the wisdom, integrity, and wonderful 
perseverance of the first planters of our shores. — Edward Rcssell. 



PORTLAND: 

SANBORN AND CARTER. 





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CONTENTS. 



FIRST SETTLEMENT OF CASCO.BAY 

First permanent settlement in Maine, 1630-attention callcrl to this section 
- of the country as early as 1605-Capt. George Wcymouth-his discove?^ 
of the Penobscot-hetakes^ five Indians to England-Sir Ferdinando GoJ 
'^ dfel^Sr V-''''^' to America, in 1609-Eicliard Vines-disease among 
g the natives-\ines cordial|y received-his party stop at Winter Harbor- 
Gorges obtains a gont froi Plymouth coloz\y-a chLter from the c^ovm- 
vvuiiam Gorges— Ins government— councillors— Alexander Rio-br takes 
possession of the colony-George Cleaves appointed his deputv-th J course 

IslaM Ro'i^itTo'r'^V'r'^^^" ^''^^^ ''^''^'^''- places-Richmond' 
island— Robert Jordan— Cleaves opens a court— a singular memorial— «ub- 
m^sion to the Massachusetts colony-the grant of Charle^TS ath of 
Gorges-heirs of Gorges-confusion of public affairs-John Ushcr-Chn?- 
ter incorporated with Massachusetts Bay-Maine an independent State 

FIRST-ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 

^^•v V'^ adhcrents-S>Tnon-his boast-Anthonr Brackctt-the treache- 

Thacde^Sn^';:;: vr"' ''i;' t;"""''^ '"^ *° ^'^^'-^ ^^ Brackett-letter by 
ihaddeu. Clark-E izabeth Harvey-account of the war-names of killed 
and prisoners- Wilham Hnbbard-Brackett and his fiimilv taken nri son 

Twnt "f "■•^^-I^K^hard Pots and wife-attack on Black Point-Mugg 
-Madokawando-death of Mugg-Thomas Cobbet-his captivity-escape 

CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 

^m.T'll^Vw'ri rf'^-^r^"^ ^''^'S'-^ poem-fires-Samuel Free- 
man— sketch of his life— postmaster— income of the Post-oflice— Mr. Frec- 

^ZlllT'^ T '^^ °*^^-¥« card-Gideon Granger-town officers- 
frnfr f .?'''l'~??P''''''*^*"'"' *^ *^ General cSiirt-votes for Gov- 
ernor-fourth of Ju y-oration-toasts-James D. Hopkins-Stephen 
Longfellow-Joseph Pope-Elizabeth McLellan-William Gorham-John 
Fro hmgham-Henrv AVadsworth-his death-Peleg Wadsworth-his re 
K11 ' ''Tf "if "'^:f ^ Storer-Tobias Ham-Rufus Ivin^™Iolm Ta- 
ber &, bon— John Howard— meeting previous to election— names of vigilant 

[See third page of Cover.] 




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GEORGE BtJRROUGHS. 

The father of Burroughs — he grada<atcs — comes to Falmouth — is driven from 
his house bv the Indians — goes to Bangs's Island — Henry Jocel}Ti — he is 
appointed Deputy-Governor — removes to Prout's Neck — is appointed Sen- 
,ior Justice — retires to Pcmaquid — ren^ovcs to Plymouth — he marries the 
widow Commock — becomes cmharrasscil — his Son Henry — John Jocelyn — 
Brian Pendleton — his letter — Anthony and Thomas Brackctt — Major Wal- 
dron — settles at Dovei- — representati\'e to the General Court — his stratagem 
— sends two hundred Indians to Boston — revenge of the savages — strata- 
-gcm of the Indians — Mcsandowit — bravery of Waldron — his painful death — 
Bryan Pendleton a representative — he removes to Portsmouth — settles in 
Saco — appointed Sergeant Major — his death — his children — Mr. Burroughs 
goes to Salem village — preaches — his salary — he leaves Salem and returns 
to Falmouth — his liberality — he retreats to Wells — is accused of witchcraft 
— the indictment — witncjssess — his trial — singular testimonj- of the bewitched 
— his feats of strength — Elizur Keysar's testimony — holding a gun at arm's 
length — Ruck's testimony— the verdict of the comt — the sentence of death 
passed upon him — he declares his innocence — addresses the people — repeats 
the Lord's prayer before his deatli — his children — descendants — Isaiab 
Thomas. 

CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN. 

William Symmcs — Maine bank broken open — Rev. Mr. Noyes — Nathaniel 
Knights — shock of an earthquake — Abigtul Taylor — night watch — William 
Thompson — Jonathan Scott — his house consumed — Zephaniali Harding — . 
freshets — the mail stage swept away — Samuel Foxcroft — annual town meet- 
ing — officers chosen — votes for Governor — votes respecting the separation 
of Maine from Massachusetts — centre school house — mamage of Jotham 
Davis — Pendleton Fletcher — thunder stprm — stage struck by lightning — 
shock of an earthquake — Dr. Morroll attacked by a steer — Representatives 
to the General Court — Mehitalile McsenT — singular deatli of William Ste- 
phens — Supreme Court — trial of Joseph Donnough — attorneys admitted to 
practice — Anthony Morse — accident on Fort Hill— Cotton street laid out — 
Bank street — high way robbers — Portland Lodge — fourth of July celebration 
— loss of the schooner Charles on the rocks near Richmond's Island— ^list of 
the drowned— Joseph Williams — death of Joseph M'Keen — Commodore 
Preble — John Baker — Alexander Munroe — Dolly Taylor — Capt. David 
Smith — ^liis severe afflictions and losses — Benevolent Society — John Patter- 
son — Josiah Converse — William Tyng — Thomas Hopkins— Judge Wilde — 
ordination of Edward Payson — merchants in Portland — dwelling houses 
built — population — marriages — deaths. 



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TO THE DESCENDANTS OF THE PILGRIMS. 



The author of the " Chronicles " 
intends to make a work that will be 
interesting and valuable, not only to 
the descendants of the early settlers 
of Ca«co Bay, but to all who feel in- 
terested in the history of our pilgrim 
fiithers. His work will be issued in 
numbers like the present, as often as 
circumstances wiU admit, knd no pains 
will be spared to make it as free from 
mistakes and eiTors as it is possible to 
make a work of this character. The 
hook will contain, at least, five hun- 
dred pagps. 

It is his intention to chronicle all 
the events of importance that have 
transpired from the first settlement of 
Casco Bay to the present timc-jinclu- 
ding the early maiTiages, births, and 
deaths, and genealogies of fanplies. 
The materials in his ])ossession have 
been gathered from various sources 
and it has occupied more or less of his 
time for many ycslrs past. Histories 
of individuals and events, Avhen of suf- 
ficient length and interest, will form 
distinct chapters, as in the present 
number. 

Yet more facts and more documents 
are desirable. We would particularly 
request those who have letters or pa- 
pers of any description whatever, rel-" 
ative to our ancestors, or any interest- 
ing facts in their possession, to com- 
municate the same to the publishers 
of this work. Qf however trifling 
value they may appear to them, we 
trust they will not withhold them. 
We would also request lists of the 



cai-ly military companies — of minis- 
ters and church members — of school 
masters and scholars, and of individu- 
als who have in any way distinguished 
themselves. 

We should be happy to receive cop- 
ies of old deeds, wills, commissions, 
or journals which may have been kept 
by families or individuals, whether for 
one month or for a series of years; 
Also, genealogies of the early settlers 
of Casco Bay. Letters or documents 
tlu-ovvn aside in old chests and garrets, 
where' tliey have lain for scopes of 
years, may be invaluable to us. Will 
those who have papers left by their 
ancestors, bring them to the light and 
send them to the publishers of the 
" Chronicles "' ? A short delay may 
be the means of losing many interest- 
ing and valuable docunients. 

In our next number will be com- 
menced a valuable and interesting 
journal, kept during the revolutionary 
times, by Mr. William Moody of Port- 
land, who was a member of Capt. 
Bradish's Company, that was oi'dered 
to Cambridge in 1775. 

Can any one ftimish us with the 
list of Captain Lowell's company of 
1775 ■? — of a qopy of Pitchwood Hill, 
by Dr. Dean ?-rof files, or parts of 
files of Portland papers, previous to 
the year 1800 ? 

AJl commiuiications, relative to the 
design of this work, addressed to 
Messrs. Sanborn & ^ Cakter, will 
be thankfully received. 

March, 1850. 



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CHRONICLES OF CASCO lUY. 



FIRST SETTLEMENT IN CASCO BAY. 

First permanent settlement in Maine, 1C30 — attention called to this section 
of the country as early as 1605 — Cajit. George Weymouth — his discove- 
ry of the Penobscot — he takes five Indians to Enelund — Sir Ferdinand 
Gorores — he sends vessels to America in 1609 — Richard Vines — disease 
among the natives — Vines cordially received— his party stop at Winter 
Harbor — Gorges obtains a grant from Plymouth colony — a charter from 
the crown — William Gorges — his government — councillors — Alexandei* 
Rigby takes possession of the colony — George Cleaves appointed his 
deputy — the conrse of Cleaves — he conveys lands in Casco and other 
places — Richmond's Island — Robert Jordan — Cleaves opens a court — a 
singular memorial — snbmission to the Massachusetts colony — the grant of 
Charles II — death of Gorges — heirs of Gorges — confusion of public af- 
fair* — John Usher — Charter incorporated -with Massachusetts Bay — 
Maine an independent State. 

In the year 1630, the first permanent settlement leso. 
was efleetecl in Maine, l)y people who emigrated 
from the Plymouth colony. Tliis year, says an old 
writer, "Bryan Brincks, John Smith, and others, 
went into New England and settled themselves in 
Casco Bay, near unto the south side of the river 
Sagadahock, [Kennebec,] and laid out several sums 
of money there, made laws and constitutions, &c. 
for the governing of said Province." As early 
as the year 1605, however, the attention of several 
2 



10 FIRST S1:TT!,K.M1;NT IX CASCO 15AV 



1 605. 



gentlemen had been called to this part of Amer- 
ica. Capt. George Weymouth/ on his return from 
a voyage of discovery,, mistook his course and dis- 
covered the riv'er Penobscot — whence he carried to 
England five Indians, one a Sagamore and three 
others of them persons of distinction. Sir Ferdi- 
nando Gorges seized upon three of the natives, whom 
he kept in his family for the space of three years 
and then sent them back. From these Indians he 
gained much information respecting our shores and 
resolved to send hither a party with a view of ma- 

J'^^ king a settlement. In the year 1609, he purchas- 
ed a ship and procured a master and crew. Among 
others, he sent Richard Vines — a man in whom he had 
the utmost confidence. Vines was an enterprising 
man and a strong Episcopalian. He made several 
voyages for Gorges, when the latter gentleman, in con- 
cert with Dr. Shutliffe, dean of Exeter, and other 
gentlemen, in the year 1615, fitted out several vessels, 

1617. with a view to explore the country. In 1616 or 1617, 
we find Richard Vines and his companions again upon 
our coast, sent out by the indefatigable Gorges — a man 
who never yielded to discouragements. AVhen they 
arrived, a destructive disease ~ prevailed among the 
natives, which is taken notice of by all the early wri- 
ters of New England. The Indians cordially received 
Mr. Vines and treated him and his company with great 
kindness. The Englishmen visited the cabins and 
TOgwams of the natives, without suffering from the 



1 Capt. Weymouth sailed from the 2 This disease was thought by some 
Do^vns in Mareh, 1605, with twenty- to be the yellow fever, and by others 
eight persons. He returned in July, the small pox. 



FIRST SETTLEMENT IN ("ASCO BAY. 11 

contagion and finally pitched upon Winter Harbor at 7^^-^ 
the mouth of the Saco river, to remain during the win- 
ter season. Vines peiformed several voyages in the 
employ of Gorges ; but for how many years we are 
not informed. 

In 1635, Sir Ferdinando obtained a grant from the 16.35. 
council of Plymouth, of all the land lying between the 
rivers Piscataqua and Sagadahock — the mouth of the 
Kennebec, and so far up the river as to make a square 
of one hundred and twenty miles. Sir Ferdinando ob- 
tained from the king a charter of the soil and jurisdic- 
tion over it. The crown never granted to au}^ subject 
more powers than were given to Gorges.^ He enjoined 
little else than the establishment of the Episcopal 
forms of church government. Of the whole province 
Gorges was made Lord Palatine, with the same privi- 
leges and powers as the Bishop of Durham, in the 
county of Palatine of Durham. 

To administer justice to the people. Sir Ferdinando, 
in 1636, sent over his nephew, WilKam Gorges, to act ^^^ 
in the capacity of Governor ; a man every way quali- 
fied for his ofiice. It was in Saco"^ that he entered up- 
on his duties. At this time this was the oldest and 
the most flourishing settlement in the Province. In 
the mean time Mr. Vines had acted as Governor, with 
the assistance of Richard Bonython. This year there 
wevQ raised for the support of public worship, thirty 



1 Gorges obtained of the king, in vate estate in Franee, The Province 

confirmation of his own grant, a dis- of Meyne. 

tinct charter of the Lind from Piscat- 2 The Indian name of Saco river 

aqua to Sagadahock, styled The ^vas Sawocotuck : hence the name of 

Province of Meyne. Tliis name was Saco — or 8aA\co, as it was formerly 

given as a compliment to the Queen spelt, 
of Charles I. who owned, as her pri- 



12 FIRST SETTLEMENT IN CASCO BAY. 



1C36. 



pounds. The number of the colonists assessed to pay 
the amount, was twenty-one. The whole number of 
people who composed the settlement, at this period, 
was about one hundred and sixty. 

The system adopted in his government by Gorges, 
was, to retain the power in his own hands and appoint, 
of his own selection, a council of seven, and also to 
provide for a branch, consisting of representatives cho- 
sen by the people. He prepared a transcript of his 
charter and commissioned councillors to execute their 
trust and read their instructions to the people, that 
they might loiow how they were governed. The com- 
mission, under Ids hand and seal, is dated September 
2, 1639. His permanent councillors were as foUows : 
Thomas Gorges,^ Deputy Governor ; Richard Vines, of 
Saco ; Heny Joscelyn, of Black Point ; Francis Cham- 
pernoon, of Piscataqua ; Richard Bonython, of Saco ; 
William Hook, of Agamenticus, and Edward Godfrey, 
of Piscataqua, [Kittery.] 

Thomas Gorges, after the expiration of his mission, 
rnr. which expired in 1644, returned to England. The 
success of republican principles in the mother country, 
induced Alexander Rigby — a man of piety and wealth 
— to become the purchaser of this grant. According- 
ly, in April, 1643, he took possession of the country. 
He commissioned George Cleaves," who had lived for 
thirteen years at Spurwink, and on the neck at Fal- 



1 Thomas Gorges was a cousin to carried on business at tlic month of 
Sir Ferdinando. Champernoon was Spurwink river, Cape Elizabeth. As 
his nephew. The latter died in 1687. the friend of Cleaves, Tucker took a 
Two of his daughters married broth- deep interest in his affairs, and when 
ers by the name of Cutts. Anotlier the difficulty arose between Vines and 
married Hmnphrcy Elliot. Cleaves, the former used Tucker 

2 In the year 1030, George Cleaves, roughly on his visit to Saco and threw 
in connection with Richard Tucker, him in prison. 



FIRST SKTTLKMENT IN CASCO I'-AY. 13 

luuuth, but who was at this time in England, his depu- ^^ 
ty-president. Cleaves was aware of the trouble he 
was likely to meet with from the former agents of Gor- 
ges, who had exercised jurisdiction over the Province 
lov six or seven years, and on arriving at Boston, in 
1G44, he endeavored, but in vain, to enlist in his be- 
lialf the Massachusetts magistrates. He then address- 
ed a letter to Gorges's Council and returned to the 
neck, (Falmouth.) But his movements met with in- 
cessant opposition from the Council. After endeavor- 
ing, in various ways, to effect a reconciliation between 
the parties, a special court was held in Boston, June 3, 
1G45, to hear the case. But as neither party could 
make it appear, by legal proof, that the territory be- 
longed to them, the court dismissed the case, and ad- 
vised the disputants to live in peace. 

The government of Cleaves was now ' little moi-e 
than a supervision of the interest of Bigby. • As his 
agent, however, in 1647, he conveyed lands in Spur- T64T, 
wink, Casco, Purpooduck, and upon the Islands.^ Big- 
by was a zealous Episcopalian, and it was by his en- 
couragement that Ilichard Gibson settled on Bich- 
mond's Island. The council of Plymouth had granted 
this Island to Bobert Trelawney and Moses Goodyeare, 
who, in 1632, appointed John Winter," to superintend 
the fishery at that place. 



1 Cleaves gave a deed of Peak's 2 .John Winter died in 1645, leaving 
Island to his son-in-law, Michael Mit- one dan.uhter. who married Rev. Rob- 
ton, in 1637, hy virtne of a commis- ert Jordan, whose descendants are nu- 
sion from Gorges, dated Febrnary 25, mcroiis in Cape Elizabeth. Mr. Jor- 
of tliis year, "for letting and settling dan died at Great Island, N. H., 1679, 
lands and islands between Cape Eliz- aged 78, leaving a large estate iu lands 
abeth and Sagadahock." Cleaves al- to his sons, 
so conveyed a large tract of land to 
Cjeorge Mountjoy. 



14 FIRST SETTLEMENT IN GASCO BAY. 

TT^T hi March, 1646, by a decision of the Governor-Gen- 
eral and Commissioners of the American Plantations, 
Alexander Rigby became rightful owner and proprie- 
tor of the Province. This decision was unwelcome to 
the adherents of Gorges, but they were obliged, how- 
ever unwillingly, to submit to it, and some of them ac- 
tually left the Province. Cleaves immediately opened 
a court at Saco, under the authority of Rigby. At 
this place, at Casco, and at Black Point he held ses- 
sions for several years.^ 

In this manner government was administered until 

1^52. the year 1652, when the people submitted to the Mas- 
sachusetts colony, which claimed the land and jurisdic- 
tion of the Province of Maine as far as the middle of 
Casco Bay.^ For the first time, Maine took the name 
of Yorkshire, and county courts were held as in Mas- 
sachusetts, and the inhabitants had liberty to send 
their deputies to the general court. 

16 64. In the year 1664, Charles 11. granted to the Duke 
of York, his brother, that part of New England which 
lies between the St. Croix and Pemaquid rivers on the 



1 A singular memorial was present- removal of all women from inhabiting 

C(l to the court in IG-tT. It read thus : tliere : and that said Reynolds may be 

'"The hnmlile petition of Richard ordered to remove his goats and swine 

Cutts and John Cutting, sheweth — from the Island without delay ; and as 

That, coutrarj' to an order, or act of in duty hound is j'our petitioners' 

court, which says — no woman shall live praj^er." 

on the Isle of Shoals ; John Reynolds The court ordered Reynolds to re- 
has brought his wife hither, with an move, within twenty days, his goats 
intention to live here and abide. He and swine from Hog Island, and from 
has also brought upon Hog Island a such other Islands as were iuliabitcd 
great stock of goats and swine, which, by hshermen. In regard to the wife, 
by destroying much fish, do great the court thought fit, that " if no fur- 
damage to your petitioners and oth- ther complaint came against her, she 
ers ; and also spoil the spring of wa- may enjoy the company of her hus- 
tcr upon that Island, rendering it un- band." 

fit for any manner of use — which af- 2 At this period a new construction 

fords the only relief and sujiply to all was put upon the Massachusetts char- 

the rest of tlie Islands. Yom- peti- ter, which was given to Rosswell and 

tioners, therefore, pray, tliat the act of others in 1628, whereby the soil was 

court may bo put in execution for the claimed. 



FIRST SETTLEMENT IN CASCO BAY. 



15 



sea coast — up the Pemaquid to its head — thence to :^^ 
the Kennebec river, in a northerly course to the river 
St. Lawrence. This part of New England was annex- 
ed to the government of New York, and called the 
Duke of York's propert}^ On the death of Charles 
II. his brother became James IT. ; but upon his abdica- 
tion these tracts reverted to the crown. Upon the res- 
toration, the heirs of Gorges^ made complaint to the 
crown of the Massachusetts usurpation. In 16G5, the 
king's commissioners visited New England — came to 
Maine and appointed officers independent of the Mas- 
sachusetts colony. These magistrates administered 
government according to the instructions given them 
by the king's commissioners, until the year 1668 or 
1669, when the general court appointed and sent leeo. 
commissioners and interrupted those who had been ap- 
pointed by the king's authority. 

The public affairs were in much confusion : some de- 
claring for the heirs of Gorges and the king, and oth- 
ers for Massachusetts. The latter finally prevailed, 
and courts of pleas and criminal jurisdiction were held 
in the province of Maine. 

In the year 1674, the heirs of Gorges again made TgtT. 
complaint to the king of the ursurpation of Massachu- 
setts Bay, and the people were called to answer to 
the complaint. The consequence was, for a time, they 
ceased to exercise their authority, and the grandson of 
Gorges sent over instructions. In the year 1677, the 



1 Sir Ferdinando Gorges died in his efforts, took no care whatever of 

England, 1 648, at the age of 74. His the property. It was a grandson of 

eldest son John, to whom fell his cs- Sir Eerdinando, who now made com- 

tate, through incapacity, or not think- plaint to the king, 
ing that ho slionld prove successful in 



IG I-IRST SETTLEMENT IN CASCO BAY. 

T^TT Massacjlmsetts colony, through their agent, John Ush- 
er/ Esq. afterwards Lieutenant Governor of Now Hamp- 
shire, purchased the interest of the patent for the sum 
of twelve hundred T pounds sterling. Massachusetts 
now governed the territory in the manner the charter 
of Maine had directed, until 1684, at which period the 
charter was vacated. After the accession of William 
and Mary, in 1691, the province of Maine and the 
large territory eastward, extending as far as Nova 
Scotia, were, by charter, incorporated with Massa- 
chusetts Bay. The district of Maine remained a part 

'^^'^^ of Massachusetts, until the year 1820, when it was 
formed into an independent State. 



1 John Usher was bora in Boston, ncrs made him ,impopular with the 
and in early life followed the business people. He died at Medford, Se2:)tem- 
of stationer. His austerity of man- ber 5, 1726, aged 77 years. 



FIRST ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON 
FALMOUTH. 

Philip — his adherents — Symon — his boast — Anthony Brackett — the treache- 
ry of Symon — tlie Indians" attack on the family of Brackett — letter by 
Tliaddciis Clark — Elizabeth Harvey — account of the war — names of killed 
and prisoners — William Hubbard — Brackett and liis family taken prison- 
ers — their escape — George Felt — removal of the people to Jewel's Island — 
assault of the natives — Richard Pots and wife — attack on Black Point — Mugg 
— Madokawando — death of Mugg — Thomas Cobbet — his captivity — escape. 

During King Philip's ' war, in the month of August, iTtT 
1670, several of his strongest adherents, who could 
speak a little English and had acquired English names, 
escaped to the ^Merrimack river and made sad havoc 
in destroying the inhabitants and wasting their prop- 
erty. One of the greatest adepts in villany, was an 
Indian by the name of Symon. He had been confined 



1 Philip, a sachem of Pokanoket, 
succeeded his brother Alexander. He 
was the son of Massassoit, king of the 
Womponoogs, whose authority extend- 
ed from Narraganset Bay to Massa- 
cluisctts Bay, who died in 1655. In 
1662, king Philip renewed the friend- 
ship which had existed %vith the En- 
glish, and came under an obligation 
not to dispose of any lands without their 
consent. But, liy the importunity of 
his young warriors, in 1675, he com- 
menced a war with the Colonists, 
which almost desolated New England. 
He foresaw the extinction of his tribe, 
should the English make settlements 
without interruption, and he was de- 
termined to make vigorous efforts to 



prevent this calamity. Consequently, 
the spirit of war was enflamed in the 
hearts of his followers, and on the 
Sabbath, June 20, the first attack was 
made on the English. After doing an 
incalculable amount of evil, and now 
having but few followers left, Philip 
was pursued into a swamp by Capt. 
Benjamin Church, on Satiuxlay. Aug- 
ust 12th, 1676, and shot by an Indian 
by the name of Alderman. His gun 
was loaded with two balls one pass- 
ed through his heart and the other pass- 
ed about two inches from it. He fell up- 
on his face with his gun under him. 
By the orders of Capt. Church, Phil- 
ip was beheaded and quartered. 



18 ATTACK OF THK INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 



1676. 



in jail in Dover, but making liis escape, with a coun- 
terfeit pass, he came to Casco Bay. This Symon often 
boasted that he had fired at numbers of white men 
and never but once failed of bringing his object to the 
ground. He was, therefore, surnamed " the Yankee 
killer." 

With Anthony Brackett, who lived at Back Cove — 
about a quarter of a mile from where Deering's bridge 
is built — he had made himself acquainted and often 
visited his house. Early in the month of August — 
on the 9th of the month, we believe — some of the In- 
dians killed a cow belonging to Mr. Brackett. Symon 
offered to discover the marauders. " I can show you 
the fellows that killed the creature," said he. Not 
suspecting any evil intention, Mr. Brackett and his 
neighbors despatched two messengers to inform Major 
Waldron of Dover, of the injury that had been done 
to his property. Before their retiirn, on the 11th of 
August, a party of savages came to Brackett' s, head- 
ed by Symon/ who exclaimed, as he approached the- 
house, " Here are the Indians who took your cow," and 
forthwith seizing all the weapons in sight, proceeded 
to bind Mr. Brackett, his wife, their five children, and 
a black servant. Being thus bound they were led 
away prisoners. Nathaniel Mitton, brother to Mrs. 



1 In 1677, Symon, with the assist- In May, 1676, he killed Thomas Kim- 

ance of another Indian, burnt a house bal, of Bradford, Mass. and carried off 

in Portsmouth and captured two fe- his wife and five children. A short 

males — one of them having a young time after, he killed John Keniston, 

child in her arms. Not being willing of Greenland, N. H. and burned his 

to be troubled with the child, they per- house. These and various other 

mitted it to be left with an aged M'om- crimes he committed, before he at- 

an, whom SjTnon spared, because, he tempted the destruction of the people 

said, she had been kind to his grand- of Falmouth. What made his crimes 

mother. This is one act of humanity, more aggravated, was his professing 

On the whole, Symon was as much to be a Christian Indian, 
dreaded as anv Indian of his times. 



ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 19 



Bracket!, on resisting the savages, was killed on the 
spot. The following letter, written on the 16th of Au- 
gust, 1676, is by an eye-w'itness of the bloody tragedy. 

Honoured Mother, 

After my duty and my wife's presented to yourselfe, 
these may inform you of [ the ] present health of our 
present being, when other of our friends are by the 
barbarous heathen cut olf from having a being in this 
world. The Lord, [of] late, hath renewed his wit- 
nesses against vs, and hath dealt very bitterly w itli vs, 
in that we are deprived of the sociatie of our nearest 
friends by the breaking in of the adversarie against 
vs. On Friday last, in the morning, your own son 
with your two sons in Law, Anthony & Thomas Brack- 
et, & their whole families were killed and taken by 
the Indians, we know not how ; tis certainly known 
by us that Thomas is slain ^ his wife & children car- 
ried away captive ; & of Anthony & his family we 
haue no tidings &; therefore think that they might be 
captivated the night before, because of the remoteness 
of their habitation from [our] neighborhood. Gm.^ 
Corban & all his family, Gm. Lewis & his wife, James 
Ross and all his family, Gm. Durham, John Munjoy 
& Daniel Wakely,^ Benjamin HadwelP and all'" his 
family, are lost, all slain by sun an hour high in the 
Morning & after ; Gm. Wallis, his dwelling house & 
none besides Ms, is burnt. There are of men slain 11 ; 
of women & children, 23 killed & taken;* we that are 



1 Gm. is a contraction of Good- 3 This name is sometimes spelt 
man. Corban's christian name was Atwell. 

Bobert. 4 This coincides with Hubbard's 

2 In one account of this Indian statement, that thirty-four persona 
war, we have seen the name of Isaac were killed and carried into captivity. 
Wakely given, instead of Danid. 



1 676. 



20 ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 



1676. 



aliue are forced upon M'. Andrews his Island/ to se- 
cure our own & the Hues of our families. We haue 
but little provision and are so few in number that we 
are not able to bury the dead till more strength come 
to vs. The desire of the people to your selfe is, that 
you would be pleased to speak to M'. Munjoy & Dea- 
con Philips that they would entreat the Governo"r^ 
that forthwith aid might be sent to vs, either to fight 
the enemie out of our borders, that our English Corn 
may be inned in whereby Ave may comfortably line, or 
remoue vs out of danger, that w^e may provide for our 
selues elsewhere. Having no more, at present, but 
desiring your prayers to God for his preservation of vs 
in these times of danger, I rest, 

your dutifuU Son, 

ffrom Casco-bay. Thaddeus Clakk.^' 

16. 6. 76. 
Remember my Lone to my Sister, he. 

These 
ffor his honoured Mother, 
Mr'^ Elizabeth Harvey,'' living 
in Boston. 



1 Bangs's Island is here referred to. has recently come in possession of it. 
It once heloncced to James Andrews. We think Mr. Clark -was a native of 

2 George jNlunjoy -was sent to Fal- Boston. He was probably the son of 
mouth with fifteen hundred pounds of Thomas Clark. 

bread, which was a great relief to the 4 Elizabeth Harvey was tlie mother 

half famished inhabitants. of Mr. Clark's wife, by a former hus- 

3 Thaddeus Clark was one of the band, Michael Mitton. Her present 
eai-ly settlers of Falmouth. He mar- husband was, undoubtedly, Thomas 
ried the second daughter of Michael Harvey, who was born in Boston, 
Mitton, and was himself killed by the October 18, 1641 — who was a son of 
Indians, mth thirteen of the company William and Joane Harney. W^illiam 
he commanded, in the year 1690. For Han^ey died August 1.5. 1658, leaving 
this invaluable letter, which has prob- foin- sons and one daugliter. Abigail, 
ably not seen the light for more than who was born the 2.5t]i of February, 
a century and a half, we are indebted 1640. Mrs. Harvey died in 1682. 

to S. G. Drake, Esq. of Boston, who 



ATTACK OF THK INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 21 

Anthony Brackett was not killed, but, with his fam- '^^^ 

•^ _ ' ' 16 7 6. 

ily, was taken prisoner. The manner of his escape is 
related hy Hubbard.^ 

The Indians that led them captive, having brought 
them to the north side of Casco Bay, news was brought 
to them of the surprisal of Arowsic's house in Kenne- 
bec, with all the stores therein, which did so rejoice 
them, that they made all haste to share in the good 
things there to be had. Thus eager to be gone, they 
promised Brackett and his wife that they also should 
have a share therein if they would make haste after 
them, bringing along a burthen allotted to each of 
them. The woman having a little before observed an 
old birch canoe lying by the water side, hoped it was 
an opportunity Providence offered for then- escape ; 
whereupon she first prudently asked the Indians to let 
the negro, their own servant, ( at the same tune car- 
ried captive by them,) help them to carry their bur- 
then, which was granted ; then she begged of them a 
piece or two of meat, which was not denied them. 
Thus being furnished with help and provision, the In- 
dians leaving them behind to come after with their 
several burthens, and a young cliild, they could not 
but look upon it as a mitiis Divinus, to bid them shift 



1 William Hiilihard was a minister ''The Present State of New England, 
of Ipswii-li. ]\Ia>;s. He Avas born in l)cing a Narrative of the Troubles 
the year 1621. and graduated at Har- with the Indians from the first Plant- 
vard college, in the tirst class, in 1642. inj^^ thereof in 1607 to 1677. but chief- 
He was ordained al)out the year 1657, ly of the two last years, 1675 and 
as colleague with Ilev. Mr. Cobl)et. 1676, to which is added a Discourse 
He wrote a History of New England, about the Avar Avith the Pcqnots:" a 
for Avhich he received from the State East Scnnon : a Euneral Discom-se 
fifty pounds. His other publications on Gen. Denison : " A Testimony to 
Avere — an election sermon, entitled the Order of the Gospel in the church- 
'' The IIap])iness of a People in tlic es of New England uith Mr. Higgin- 
Wisdom of their Rulers Directing and son." Mr. Hubbard died in the year 
in the Obedience of their Brethren : " 1704, at the advanced age of 82. 



22 ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 



1676, 



1689. 



for themselves. The woman also found a needle and 
thread in the house, with which she mended the canoe, 
while they tarried on that side of the bay, in which 
they soon ventured to get away, which prosperously 
succeeded ; for in that old canoe they crossed a water 
eight or nine miles broad, and when they came on the 
south side of the bay, they might have been in as 
much danger of other Indians, that had lately been 
about Black Point, and had taken it ; but they were 
newly gone. So things on all sides thus concurring to 
help forward their deliverance, they came safely to the 
flat at Black Point, where, also, by special providence, 
they met with a vessel bound for Piscataqua, that came 
into that harbor but a few hours before they came 
thither, by which means they arrived safe in Piscata- 
qua river soon after. 

Thirteen years afterwards, in 1689, Mr. Brackett 
was again taken captive and remained among the In- 
dians about one year. In 1682, he commanded Fort 
LoyaP and two military companies. He was also the 
representative of Falmouth to the General Assembly, 
under President Danforth's administration. He was 
shot by the Indians in the year 1689. His descend- 
ants still reside in Portland. 

The next day after the slaughter by the Indians, a 
man by the name of George Felt,~ as we learn from 
Hubbard, suspecting the worst, by reason of a smoke 
he saw on the opposite side of the town, took his wife 



1 Fort Loyal was situated at the killed by the Indians September 23, 
foot of King, now India street. on Munjoy's [Peak's] Island. With 

2 George Felt became a freeman in him fell six or seven persons belong- 
Falmouth in 1660. He married the ing to Casco — but whose names were 
daughter of Jane Macworth. He was never handed down. 



ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 2^ 

and children into a canoe, to see what the matter was ; -^ — 

' , 1676. 

but when he came near a point of land, not far off, he 
found several of his neighbor's goods, which made 
him conclude that their owners were killed, and w^hich 
was a sufficient warning to him likewise to fly for his 
life, wliich he did to the same island. After a number 
of them had escaped thither, they recollected that they 
had left powder behind them in one or two places ; 
whereupon they determined to venture a party of them 
in the night, to prevent the Indians from having ad- 
vantage thereby, and for their own defence, if occasion 
should require ; accordingly their attempt succeeded 
well, for they brought away a barrel of powder from 
the house of one Wells, and likewise a considerable 
quantity out of a chest in a store-house, where the In- 
dians had been ransacking, and had taken things out 
of the other end of the chest, yet overlooked the 
powder. 

After these depredations were committed by the 
Indians, several families removed to Jewel's Island — 
hoping there to be more secure ; but in a few weeks 
the Indians, to a considerable number, finding no re- 
sistance made, went to the Island with the intention of 
destroying it. In the mean time the English had re- 
paired to a fortified house, where they expected to be 
secure. But when the Indians made an assault upon 
the garrison, most of the people were absent, except- 
ing women and children. Richard Potts, with two of 
his companions, were in a boat, employed in fishing, 
while his wife was washing clothes near the shore, with 
her children by her side. Mrs. Potts and the children 
were taken by the Indians in the presence of her hus- 



24 



1 G7C. 



ATTACK OF THE INDIANS ON FALMOUTH. 

band and carried away — he being unable to render 
them any assistance. One child, on seeing its father, 
made an effort to run to him in the water, but an In- 
dian seized him and took him away. ]\Ir. Potts at- 
tempted to fire at the savage, but fearing he might 
kill his child he forebore. Two or three Indians were 
killed by shots from the garrison. One lad killed sev- 
eral. A few of the English, in escaping from the Is- 
land in a canoe towards Richmond's Island, met a 
small vessel, and to the men on board, they made 
known the situation of the people, who immediately 
went to their assistance and took them off. The In- 
dians soon after appeared at Spurwink where they 
killed one man, wounded another and took one captive. 
On the 12th of October an assault was made on 
Black Point, in Scarborough, by Miigg,^ a chief among 
the Androscoggin Indians, Avho was assisted with near- 
ly a hundred warriors. The English, being gathered 
in one fortified place, might have easily driven off the 
savages ; but while the captain, Mr. Josselyn, went 
out to consult with Mugg, the people fled in fear from 
the garrison and took most of their effects with them. 
Not being able to make resistance on his return, as he 



1 At the close of the war, Mugg was English proposed, and it is not singu- 

sent by Madokawando, chief of the lar that when he was released, the In- 

Penobscot tribe of Indians, to Piscata- dians should still continue enemies to 

qua, to I'eceive proposals from the En- the English. About one year from 

glish, as the latter desired to treat about this time, Mugg appeared at Black 

peace. The Penobscot chief had about Point and for three days beseiged the 

sixty English captives at this period, garrison, and killed three men. Mugg 

That Mugg might be kindly received, was accompanied by Symon, who had 

a captive accompanied him, who was previously done so much mischief in 

to retiirn to his home. Upon Mugg's Casco and other places. Lieutenant 

arrival, he was seized by General Gen- Tippin, the commander of the garri- 

dal, of Massachusetts, forced on board son, made a successful shot and killed 

of his vessel and carried to Boston, an Indian, who it was aftenvards as- 

Madokawando's ambassador was now certained to be the daring Mugg. 
obliged to treat on such terms as the 



ATTACK OF TlIK INDIANS 0\ I'ALMOUTll. ZO 

had but a servant or two left, Mr. Josselyn was olilicr- .^TTT 
ed to surrender. The servants were taken by the In- 
dians, but were treated kindly by them. 

Thomas Cobbet, who resided on Richmond's Island, 
was taken captive by the savages. He was first 
wounded by a shot and then his hands were closely 
tied. In the division of the captives, Gobbet's lot fell 
to an Indian of the worst character. His duty was to 
manage a captured ketch, in sailing to Sheepscot and 
from thence to paddle a canoe with himself and mas- 
ter to Penobscot, and afterwards to Mount Desert. He 
suffered severely from famine, cold, and fatigue, and fre- 
quently the savage would draw his knife, threatening 
him with instant death, because he could not under- 
stand his dialect. One day, wliile hunting, having 
been exposed to severe cold, he fell senseless to the 
earth, and would have perished but for the assistance 
of some humane hunters. His master, at one time, 
was drunk for five successive days, when he abused 
him unmercifully. Cobbet was obliged to escape to 
the woods to save his life. At the expiration of nine 
weeks he most fortunately escaped and returned to his 
friends. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED 
AND FOUR. 



Directors of Portland Bank — Daniel George — a poem — fires — Samuel Free- 
man — sketch of his life — postmaster — income of the Post-office — Mr. Free- 
man's removal from the office — his card — Gideon Granger — town officers — 
Register of Deeds — Eepresentatives to the General Court — votes for Gov- 
ernor — fourth of July — oration — toasts — James D. Hopkins — Stephen 
Longfellow — Joseph Pope — Elizabeth McLellan — William Gorham — John 
Frothingham — Henry Wadsworth — his death — Pcleg Wadsworth — his re- 
markable escape — Woobury Storer — Tobias Ham — Rufus King — John Ta- 
ber & Son — John Howard — meeting previous to election — names of vigilant 
committee — merchants in Portland — dwelling liouses built — population — 
marriages — deaths. 



January 2. The following stockholders were cho- 
sen Directors of the Portland Bank, for the ensuing 
year : Hugh M'Lellan, Matthew Cobb, Woodbury 
Storer, Daniel Tucker, Arthur M'Lellan, John Mus- 
sey, Samuel F. Hussey. 

January 10. Joel Somes, of Sheepscot, was drown- 
ed in the river at Wiscasset, by the upsetting of a 
canoe. 
Feb. February 4. Mr. Daniel George, aged 45, died sud- 
denly. He was late publisher of the " Gazette of 
Maine." Mr. George, although a cripple from his in- 
fancy, possessed an active and capacious mind. He 
was distinguished for his proficiency in mathematics. 
On account of his dwarfish appearance, George was 
sometimes slighted by the fair sex. One day a gay 



CHRONICLES OF EWHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



27 



woman made a remark, which he thought reflected up- '^'^^ 
on himself, when he immediately replied : 

K I had spoke Ijcfore my birth, 

I'd please the prettiest lass on earth! 

Mr. George was an agreeable companion and an hon- 
est man.^ 

February 5. A fire was discovered in the dwelling Feb. 
house of Mr. Michael Duley, which was extinguished 
without much damage. 

February 25. There was an alarm of fire last eve- 
ning. It originated in Mr. Griffin's shoe store, Jones's 
Row. The damage was trifling. 

February 29. Last evening, at Freeport Landing, 



1 Besides his other attainments, Mr. 
George possessed quite a poetical tal- 
ent. The following " Elegy on the 
death of two Favorite Thrushes," was 
written by him several years before 
his death : 

Begin, my muse, the mournful strain, 
O ! let me not implore in vain, 

Thy verse insi^iring power ; 
My grief an ample theme affords, 
But how shall I pronounce the words. 

My thrushes are no more ! 

Both, both my darling birds are gone : 
Had cruel death but spared me one, 

I scarcely would repine ; 
But both are dead ! O ! fate unkind ! 
Wliat pangs of grief distract my mind ! 

Nor hopes of joy are mine. 

How would my little wai'lders come, 
And tamely sit upon my thumb. 

Well pleased, and sweetly sing : 
The moments softly rolled away, 
And gloomy winter seemed like May, 

The flowery month of Spring. 

And when the violin was played, 
They'd always lend their softer aid. 

To grace the enchanting sound : 
No evil genius could be near, 
While music charmed the listening ear 

Of every subject round. 



But now my favorite birds are gone, 
And I most feelingly bemoan 

Their fate in pensive strain : 
To books I fly to seek relief, 
And ease my heart-con'oding gi'ief ; 

But all, alas, in vain ! 

Nor Milton, Addison, nor Pope, 
Affords one cheering ray of hope. 

Though I their works explore ; 
Nor violin's melodious tone. 
Has power to charm; my birds are gone, 

And music is no more. 

Come, all you little winged loves, 
That haunt the valleys and the groves. 

And drop a friendly tear : 
Ye thrushes — birds of sweetest lays, 
Robins and sparrows, larks and jays, 

Attend the solemn biex'. 

Not one of all your feathered throng. 
Could, like my thrushes, chant a song, 

So pleasing to the ear ; 
Nor could the famed Canary bii"d, 
Such sweet variety afford. 

So musical and clear. 

And now, in soft elysian shades. 
Where no fell accident invades, 

By mortal eye unseen, 
They sing in more exalted strains, 
And freely roam o'er hills and plains. 

Through groves forever green. 



28 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN IIUNDRED AND FOUR. 



1 804. 



a store occupied by Samuel Porter, with its contents, 
was destroyed by fire. Loss $4,500. A dwelling 
house belonging to John B. Lane, was also destroyed. 
March. March 20. Samuel Freeman,^ Esq. who was ap- 
pointed Postmaster of Portland, under Dr. Franklin, 
was removed to give place to Thomas M. Prentiss. 
For the first eight years after Mr. Freeman was ap- 
pointed Postmaster, his income was but little more 
than six dollars a year. For the second eight years, 
it had increased to twenty seven dollars a year ; and 
for the third eight years, his income increased to two 
hundred and forty seven dollars a year. When he left, 
his income was a thousand dollars a year. 

When Mr. F. relinquished his office, he published 
the following card : " Samuel Freeman hereby gives 
notice, that, in obedience to a late order of the Post- 
master General, he shall deliver up his office of Dep- 
uty Postmaster, to Thomas M. Prentiss, Esq. who is 



1 Samuel Freeman was the oldest In 1773, Mr. Freeman united liimself 

son of Enoch Freeman, a native of to Mr. Smith's cliurch, -w^here he was 

Eastliam, JMass. who was born in May, afterwards chosen deacon, the duties 

1706, graduated at Harvard College, of which office lie continued to dis- 

in 1729, and established himself in charge for more than forty j-ears. Mr. 

Falmouth, 1742. The same year lie Freeman died Jime loth, 1831, aged 

married Mary Wright, who died in 86 years. In November, 1777, he 

1785. Enoch Freeman died Septem- married Mary Fowlc, of Watertown, 

her 2, 1788, aged 82 years. Samuel who died in January, 1785, leaving 

was born in Falmouth, June 15, 1743. tlu-ee children. His second -Nnfe, Mrs. 

In early life he was a teacher, a tra- Betsey Jones, he married in 1786. 

del", and an attorney at law. In She died in March, 1831, aged 77. By 

1775, 1776, and 1778, he was a dele- her he had six children — one of whom 

gate to the Provincial Congress. He is Rev. Charles Freeman, for the last 

received from (iovernment the office thirty years pastor of the Congrega- 

of Clerk of the Cumberland County tional church in Limerick. Samuel 

Courts, which he held until 1820 — a Freeman was the author of the fol- 

period of forty-six j'ears. In 1776, lowing works : Town Officer; Clerk's 

he was appointed Register of Probate. Magazine; Probate Directory; Ex- 

The same year he received the ap- tracts from the Journali? kept by the 

pointment of Postmaster, which of- Rev. Thomas Smith, 
fice he retained for twenty-nine years. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 29 

appointed to succeed him. Although Mr. Granger^ ^^.^.^^ 
believes ' that the public interest will be promoted by ^^j.^.,, 
the appointment of a new Postmaster/ he flatters 
hunself that the public will not think that his belief 
is grounded on evidence of any breach of trust or 
partialit}^ in the exercise of it towards persons of a 
different political character. He is not conscious of 
being culpable in these respects, but is happy in the 
reflection, that from the time of his first appointment 
in the year 1775, he has discharged the duties of the 
office with a due regard to all concerned, and with that 
care and attention, which they had a right to ex- 
pect." 

When Mr. Freeman received his notice to remove, 
he addressed a cutting letter to Mr. Granger, — a copy 
of which is in our possession — in wliich he desires to 
know the reasons of his removal. Said he, " I should 
have been glad if you had informed me what it was 
that influenced you in your determination to remove 
me. Was it grounded on the idea that, however faith- 
ful your deputies are, who were appointed before you 
came into office, it was necessary their places should 
be enjoyed by men of your own sect ? — and that be- 
cause they do not resign or die fast enough, vacancies 
ought to be created for the purpose ? " 



1 Gideon Grander was born at Suf- the New York Senate in 1819, he gave 

field, Conn.. July 19, 1767, and gradu- one thousand acres of land for the 

atedat Yale College in 1787. In 1801, Erie Canal. He died December 31, 

he was appointed by President Jefter- 1822, aged 55. His writings were 

son. Postmaster General in place of mostly of a political character, over 

Joseph Habersham. He held the of- the signatures of Senectus, Algernon 

fice until 1814, when he was succeed- Sidney, and Epaminondas. Mr. Gran- 

ed by Return Jonathan Meigs. He ger married the sister of Mr. Pease, 

was actively engaged in internal im- Assistant Posmaster General, 
provements, and while a member of 



1 804 
March 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 

March 26. At the town meeting the following offi- 
cers were chosen : 

Town OlerJc. Stephen Patten. 

Town Treasurer. Lemuel Weeks. 

Collector of Taxes. George Warren. 

Selectmen. Samuel Freeman, John Mussey, Joseph 
Titcomb, Joseph H. Ingraham, Joshua Rogers. 

Fire Wards. Ebenezer Mayo, Hugh M'Lellan, Dan- 
iel Tucker, Nathaniel Fosdic, Woodbury Storer, Robert 
Boyd, Lemuel Weeks, Joshua Rogers, Thomas Web- 
ster, John Mussey, James Neal, Richard Hunnewell. 

Health Committee. Joshua Rogers, Josiah Tucker, 
Asa Clapp, Woodbury Storer, Joseph H. Ingraham, 
Samuel F. Hussey, John Mussey, Matthew Cobb, Da- 
vid Green. 

For the office of Register of Deeds the following 
gentlemen were candidates: EKas Merrill, Gardner 
Gould, Isaac Gage, Stephen Waite, Thomas B. Waite, 
Levi Cutter, Isaac Adams, Ebenezer Mayo, Stephen 
Patten, Joseph Titcomb, Andrew R. Giddings, George 
E. Vaughan, Nathaniel Moody, Samuel Stephenson^ 
Joseph C. Boyd, and John Frothingham. Mr. Merrill 
was finally elected and held the office until his death, 
which occurred in 1824, when he was 63 years of age. 
^ rii. April 2. At a meeting of the inhabitants of Port- 
land, at the Court House, for the choice of Governor, 
Lieutenant Governor, Senators, and Counsellors, the 
result was as follows : 

Governor. Caleb Strong had 406 votes ; James Sul- 
livan, 159 ; WUliam Chadwick, 1 ; William Hall, 1. 

Lieutenant Governor. Edward H. Robbins, 406 ; 
William Heath, 156 ; Barnabas Bidwell, 1. 



CHRONIOLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 31 

/S^e?Ktto?:s. John Gushing, 372 ; VYoobury Storcr, j^;^ 
342 ; Daniel Ilsley, 221 ; Isaac Parsons, 194 ; Lathrop 
Lewis, 11 ; Nathaniel C. Allen, 4 ; Ammi R. Mitchell, 
2 ; Isaac Parker, 1 ; William Symmes, 1. 

Among other subjects brought before this meeting 
was one relative to public walks. But, to the regret 
of the present generation, no action was taken upon it. 

Died, in Boothbay, Mr. Samuel Barter, aged 105 
years. 

May 14. The following gentlemen were chosen as ^^^y- 
Representatives to the General Court : 

PoHland. Joseph Titcomb, William Symmes, Dan- 
iel Tucker, Matthew Cobb. 

Falmouth. Archelaus Lewis. 

North Yarmouth. Ammi R. Mitchell. 

Scarlormigh. Col. Larrabee. 

Neiv Gloucester. Joseph E. Foxcroft. 

July 4. This day was observed by the usual dem- July- 
onstrations of joy. A procession was formed, escorted 
by the Portland Artillery, commanded by James D. 
Hopkins,^ Esq. which proceeded to the church of the 



1 James D. Hopkins was bora at ed a work on Insurance. He also left 
Axminister, England, and came to a work in manuscript, in two volumes. 
Portland when quite young, with It is a fiction founded upon the early 
his father. He studied law in the history of ralmouth. His published 
office of Daniel Davis. Being a works are — "An Oration pronounced 
close student, when admitted to the before the Portland Lodge of Free and 
Cumberland bar, he at once took Accepted Ancient Masons," June 24th, 
a high stand. Mr. Hopkins died June 1801; "An Oration pronounced bc- 
17, 1840, aged 68 years. He was thrice fore the inhabitants of Portland, July 
man-ied. His first mfe was Mary 4th, 1805;" and "An Address to the 
Bagley, to whom he was married in members of Cumberland Bar," deliv- 
January, 1802, who died in the March ered at Portland, June term, 18.33. 
following. To his second wife. Dor- Mr. Hopkins left three diildi-en — Ma- 
cas Tucker, he was married in Decern- ry E. who man-ied James G. Norcross 
ber, 1804. She died in June, 1816. of Lowell, Mass. ; Susan P. who mar- 
To his third \\'ife, Louisa H. Crabtrec, ried St. John Smith of Portland ; Dor- 
he was married in 1822. She died in cas, who manied Elias Banks of Port- 
October, 1848. Mr. Hopkins, at the land, 
time of his death, had nearly complct- 



32 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 

Second Parish, where an oration was pronounced by 
Stephen Longfellow/ Esq. The procession returned 
to Union Hall, where a sumptuous dinner was prepar- 
ed. Among the toasts given were the following : 

The Memory of Washington. We will revere it till 
memory itself shall die, and gratitude shall cease to he 
a virtue. 

John Adams. The pride of his country and an hon- 
or to the world. May the evening of his days be as 
happy as the morning of his life was glorious. 

The Atnericcm Eagle. May its wings protect its 
friends and its talons crush its enemies. 

The Hall was finely decorated for the occasion. 
Portraits of Washington, Adams, and Pinckney were 
hung in the room. 

Mr. Longfellow's oration was afterwards published. 

In Gorha7n, Samuel Whitmore, Esq. delivered an 
oration. 

In North Yarmouth, Mr. Jabez Woodman was the 
orator of the day. 

In Windham, Joseph Pope, Esq. pronounced an ora- 



1 Stephen Longfellow was the member of Congress. He married the 
grandson of Stephen Longfellow, who daughter of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth. 
was born in Newbuiy, in the year Professor Longfellow, of Cambridge, 
1723 — graduated at Harvard College the poet and scholar, is a son of this 
in 1742, and came to Falmouth in gentleman. His death occurred in the 
April, 1745, and opened a school. In fall of 1849, at the age of 73 years. 
1 749, he married Tabitha Bragdon, of Mr. Longfellow was, in every respect, 
York, by whom he had three sons and a good man. He was kind and gene- 
one daughter. Stephen, his oldest rous and always ready to do a favor, 
son, married Patience Young of York, no matter how poor and humble the 
These were the parents of the orator, individual who solicited it. We can 
Stephen was born in Gorham, in 1776, speak of the good qualities of his 
and graduated at Harvard College in heart from personal experience. He 
1798. He soon after established him- died in the full assurance of a better 
self in Portland, in the practice of life — having in the early part of his 
law, and was eminently successful, career, made a public profession of 
He was a member of the Hartford Christianity. 
Convention in 1814, and afterwards a 



CHIlOX10Li:S OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 33 

tion. " It met the general applause and approbation ^'^^ 
of the audience," wrote one who was present, " and j^j^ 
discovered the fire of native genius and irreproachable 
political principles." 

At Bridgfon, the declaration of independence was 
read by Samuel Farnsworth, Esq. and an oration pro- 
nounced by Mr. Langdon. 

July 9. Died in Gorham, widow Elizabeth McLel- 
lan, aged 95 years. She was born in the north of Ire- 
land, and came to this country in early life with her 
husband. After spending a few weeks in Boston and 
Falmouth, she settled in Gorham. This place was then 
a wilderness, but she lived to see it become a flourish- 
ing town. Mrs. M. lived to see her descendants to the 
fourth generation ; all of whom amounted to two hun- 
dred and thirty four. All but twenty five survived 
her. 

July 22. Hon. William Gorham^ died in Gor- 
ham, aged 62 years. He was Judge of Probate and 
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for the County of 
Cumberland. 

August 6. Mr. Tobias Ham died in Brunswick, Aug. 
aged 86. He left one hundred and twenty two de- 
scendants ; some, of the fifth generation. Seven sons 
followed him to the grave ; the youngest of whom was 
50 years of age. 

September. During this season there was much dis- 
cussion respecting a turnpike from St. Albans to Port- 



1 Judge Gorham was a native of Common Pleas seventeen years. The 

Barnstable, Mass. He held the office town of Gorham was named from one 

of Judge of Probate twenty-two years of his family, 
and that of Judge of the Court of 



34 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOTJR. 



1804. 



land, to be connected with Montreal. At that day 
railroads were not thought of. 

Hon. Samuel Freeman was appointed Judge of Pro- 
bate for the County of Cumberland, in the place of 
the late Hon. William Gorham. 

Hon. John Frothingham^ was appointed Register of 
Probate. 

Sept. September 4. Lieutenant Henry Wadsworth, aged 
19 years, son of Gen. Peleg Wadsworth.^ of Hiram, 
was blown up in a fire ship, before the walls of Tripo- 
li, together with his companions, Captain Somers, mid- 
shipman Izard and others. The ship was sent by or- 
der of Commodore Preble, for the purpose of destroy- 
ing the Tripolitan navy. These young men sacrificed 
their lives, rather than fall into the hands of the en- 
emy. A monument, to commemorate this event, has 
been erected in front of the capitol at Washington. 
There is also a monument in the eastern cemetery, in 
Portland, erected by the friends of 3^oung Wadsworth. 

Sept. September 13. The Pythagorian Lodge of Ancient 
Masons, was consecrated at Fryeburg, and its officers 



1 Mr. Frothingham was born in trict of Maine, from Piscataqna to St- 
Charlestown, Mass. in 1750. In 1771, Croix. After the war he settled in 
he graduated at Harvard College. He Portland, and was a representative to 
came to Portland about the year 1773 Congress for fourteen years. In 1781, 
and studied law with Theophilus Brad- he was captured in his house and con- 
bury. In 1784, he married Martha veyed to Bagaduce, [Castine.] From 
May of Boston. During his life he the fort where he Avas imprisoned, he 
was County Attorney, Representative made a most extraordinary escape, 
to the General Court, and Judge of with his friend Major Burton. He 
the Court of Common Pleas. He crossed the Penobscot in a canoe, trav- 
died in 1826, aged 76. eled though a pathless wilderness, and 
2 Mr. Wadsworth was a Major Gen- finally succeeded in reaching a place of 
era! in the war of the revolution. He safety. Gen. Wadsworth removed to 
was born in Duxbury, Mass. May 6, Hiram, where he died in November, 
1748, and graduated at Harvard Col- 1829, aged 81 years. He left several 
lege in 1769. In 1780, he was sent children. His daughter, Zilpah, mar- 
from Boston to command in the dis- ried the Hon. Stephen Longfellow. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUH. 



35 



installed under the dii'ection of Hon. Woodbury Stor- 
er.^ A discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Turner. 

September 22. The arch over the Back Cove Bridge 
gave way this morning, which rendered passing it im- 
possible for several days. 

September 28. Hon. Rufus King," who had been 
Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States to the 
Court of St. James, while on a visit to his native State, 
was received by the citizens of Portland by a public 
dinner at Columbian Hall.^ Judge Benson, who was 
formerly Chief Justice of the Circuit Court of the 
United States for New York District was present on 
the occasion. Hon. Woodbury Storer presided. Mat- 
thew Cobb, Lemuel Weeks and Ebenezer Mayo, offici- 
ated as Vice Presidents. 

The following tcast was given by Judge Benson : 



1 804 



Sept 



J Woodbury Storer was a native of 
Wells, but in early life he settled in 
Portland. In 1780, he married Anne, 
daughter of Mr. Benjamin Titcomb ; 
she dyinp: in a few years, he again 
manned. INIargaret, daughter of James 
Boyd of Boston, who died in Boston, 
aged about "4 years. Mr. S. died in 1 825, 
aged 6.5. Bellamy Storer, of Cincin- 
nati, and Woodbury Storer of Port- 
land, are his sons. 

2 Rufus King was the son of Rich- 
ard King of Scarborough, who died 
March 28, 1775. Rufus was born in 
1755. He graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1777. He was aid to John 
Sullivan, in 1778, in an expedition 
against the British in Rhode Island. 
In 1780, he was admitted to the bar 
in Newburyport and was soon after 
chosen a representative to the Legis- 
lature. He was a member of the con- 
vention in 1787, to form the constitu- 
tion of the United States. Having 
married, in 1786, the daughter of John 
Alsop, a merchant of New York, in 
1788, he removed to that city. In 



1789, he was elected senator to the 
Congress of the United States. In 
1796, he was appointed by Washing- 
ton ^^linister Plenipotentiary. At the 
English Court he remained through 
John Adams's administration and two 
years of that of 'Mi: Jefferson's. Af- 
ter his return in 1803, he lived retired 
till the war of 1812. Having taken a 
conspicuous part on the .^ide of his 
country, he was in 1813, appointed a 
senator of the United States. In 1820, 
he was re-elected to the same office. 
On retiring from the Senate in 1825, 
he was incluced by John Quincy Ad- 
ams to ])rocecd again as Minister to 
the English Court. But during his 
voyage, he was attacked with a disease, 
which prevented him from entering 
upon his duties. In one year he re- 
turned to his f;imily at Jamaica, Long 
Island, wiicre he lingered till April 29th 
when he died, aged 72 years. 

3 This Hall was in a building oppo- 
site the Market House, IMiddle Street. 
It was removed a few years since, to 
give place to a brick Block. 



36 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTHEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



1 804 



The town of Portland — a nursery of seamen : a nurse- 
ry of prowess and enterprise. 

John Taber & Son issued small bills, which were ta- 
ken pretty freely in town, but failing soon after, their 
bills became worthless. Scores of the poor suffered in 
consequence. 
Oct. October 10. Mr. John Richards was accidentally 
run over by his own trucks and died in a few minutes. 

Capt. John Howard died at Augusta, aged 71. lie 
was deprived of his reason for upwards of forty years. 
In the year 1755, he held the second command at Fort 
Western, which was erected as a defence against the 
Indians. In 1759 he was entrusted with despatches 
from Gen. Amherst, w^hich had been forwarded from 
Crown Point, to deliver to Gen. Wolfe, then beseiging 
Quebec. To accomplish this, he ^vas obliged to per- 
form a journey of nearly two hundred miles, through 
an almost unbroken wilderness. 

October 30. Col. Samuel March died in Scarbo- 
rough, aged 74. He left ten children, fifty eight grand 
children, and eight great grand children. 
jjq^ November 3. A meeting was held this evening to 
take some measures respecting the election to take 
place on the Monday following. Samuel Freeman, 
Esq. was called to the chair, and Joseph Swift appoint- 
ed Secretary. It may be interesting to publish the 
names of the vigilant committee appointed on this 
evening — all but two of whom, Messrs. Bird and New- 
hall, are now [1850] sleeping in the dust : — William 
Jenks, Walter Hatch, Lemuel Weeks, Woodbury Stor- 
er, Rufus Washburn, Smith Cobb, James Neal, John 
Taber, Salmon Chase, William Moulton, Jr., Nathaniel 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 37 

Chamberlain, Hugh McLellan, Stephen Tukey, Samuel '^^'^ 
Stephenson, Ebenezer Storer, Eleazer A. Jenks, Thom- 
as B. Waite, William B. Peters, John Morse, Seth 
Phillips, Seth Bird, Francis Chase, Joshua Dyer, Dan- 
iel Cobb, John Leavitt, William Symmes, Thomas Del- 
ano, Albert Newhall, Daniel Johnson, Isaac McLellan, 
Daniel Tucker, James D. Hopkins, Jeremiah Perry, 

November 27. At a town meeting held in Minot, 
the people consented to the incorporation of a Congre- 
gational Society. Ayes, 54 ; nays, 29. 

December 5. Kev. John Turner was installed pas- Dec. 
tor of the second religious society in Biddeford. 

December 8. Walter, son of Thomas Starbird, was 
drowned in Capisic mill pond. His age was 15. He 
fell through the ice. 

Among the merchants in Portland tliis year, were — 
Jonathan Leeds, Enoch Moulton, Shirley Erving, Sam- 
uel Trask, Isaac Adams, Abijah Cheever, Jeremiah W. 
Smith, Eleazer Greely, Day & Hsley, WiUiam Lord, 
L. Weeks & Son, David Dana, Lord & Thomas, Cod- 
man & Swan, Nathaniel Jenks, James C. Ballard, 
Thomas Cross, Farrell, Dickinson & Co., W. & C. 
Hatch, Ebenezer Humphreys. 

During the past year, upwards of six hundred dwell- 
ing houses were built in Portland, some of which were 
the following : Lemuel Weeks's, India street ; Abra- 
ham Osgood's, Green street ; Jacob Noyes's, Free 
street — now belonging to Charles Jones ; Joseph Vea- 
zie's, Chesnut street; JMr. Washburn's, Cumberland 
street — now owned by Ezekiel Whitman ; Rogers's 
and Codman's, Cross street — now belonging to Edward 



1 



38 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



^^"^^ Howe and William Cammett; Noah Harding's, Con- 
gress street ; Lemuel Bryant's, Middle street. 

The population of Portland, tliis year, was about 
4650. 

MARRIAGES IN PORTLAND. 

Adams, Bartlett and Charlotte Neal. 
Ames, John and Aphia Pote. 
Anderson, John and Hannah Jones. 
Balfour, James and Polly Thomes. 
Brasbridge, George Walker and Sally Willey. 
Bangs, Thomas and Hannah H. Shaw. 
Baker, Joseph and Elizabeth Hale. 
Badger, John and Jenny Waters. 
Bradbury, William and Olive Mitchell. 
Badger, Samuel and Sally Willey. 
Bradbury, David and Polly Henshaw. 
Brown, Aaron and Olive Mitchell. 
Chase, Salmon and Sarah Tyng Waldo. 
Conant, George and Mary Pote. 
Clark, Josiah and Elizabeth Newman. 
Corbet, William and Sally Moses. 
Cochran, Timothy and Lovey Lord. 
Catin, Walter and Sarah Wiswall. 
Cobb, Samuel and Sally Lunt. 
Crosby, Cato and Bhoda M'Farland. 
Cross, Thomas and Laura Sandford. 
Cobb, Jonathan and Bathsheba Yeaton. 
Cutler, Peter and Sukey Davis. 
Cowan, John and Sally Merrill. 
Cross, William and Eliza Stevens. 
Davis, Nathan and Eunice Caldwell. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



39 



Dean, James and Eliza Wood. rsoT. 

Day, Calvin and Mary Farnam. 
Dennison, Solomon and Mary Warren- 
Drew, Andrew and Lydia Warren. 
De Costa, John and Anna Adams, 
Emerson, James and Almira Bowers. 
Ervin, John and Martha Drinkwater. 
Emberley, Stephen and Mehitablc Sweet. 
Flood, James and Eliza Parsons. 
Foster, Charles and Nancy Poland. 
Flinn, Thomas and Mary Jones. 
Farmer, James and Betsey Webb. 
Grifhn, William P. and Bachel Wiswall. 
Green, Richard and Sally Crowninshield. 
Hopkins, James D. and Dorcas Tucker. 
Hart, Francis and Sally Baker. 
Harman, John and Betsey Biggs. 
Hall, Simeon and Harriet Thrasher. 
Herbert John and Mary Voax Clinton. 
Huston, William and Elizabeth Eusties. 
Ingraham, James Milk and Eliza Thurston. 
Jones, Henry and Mary Windship. 
Jenks, Bobert and Sarah Rivers. 
Jordan, Ezekiel and Nabby Bailey. 
Jordan, Jeremiah and Rebecca Rice. 
Kain, Thomas and Lydia Ingersoll. 
Keaton, Walter and Sarah Wiswall. 
Longfellow, Stephen and Zilpah AVadsworth. 
Lovis, Josiah and Martha Bailey. 
Lombard, Ephraim and Jane Larrabee. 
Lake, John and Zeruiah Ruby. 
Mayberry, Samuel and Sally Pettengill. 



40 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



1804. 



Mulloj, William and Hannah Sawyer. 
Moody, William and Rachel Riggs. 
Mire, John and Elizabeth Goodnow. 
Moulton, Enoch and Sally Searl. 
M'Graw, Jeremiah and Mary Humphreys. 
Nason, Benjamin and Hannah G. Vaughan. 
Nugent, John and Jane White. 
Pierce, Johnson and Frances How. 
Pierce, Eli and Betsey White. 
Pierce, William and Mary Blake. 
Patch, Dustin and Submit Shurtlief. 
Prince, Joel and Sukey Morse. 
Pearson, Henry and Sarah Sa^vyer. 
Patterson, John and Lucy Peters. 
Rich, Benjamin and Nabby Meserve. 
Richardson, Thomas and Rebecca Wescot. 
Rowe, Thomas and Sophy Hemmenway. 
Riggs, Enoch and Nancy Constable. 
Rubee, Ebenezer and Matilda Chadwick. 
Richards, Samuel and Rebecca Badger. 
Smith, Michael and Anna Battelle. 
Snelling, John and Margaret Scot. 
Sullivan, John and Sukey Green. 
Shaw, Enoch and Betsey King. 
Smith, Thomas and Sally Sears. 
Sanders, Ningo and Sally Ambee. 
Slater, James and Priscilla Roberts. 
Shepherd, Tristram and Sally Smith. 
Starboard, Samuel and Eunice Bailey. 
Sullivan, Daniel and Sukey Green. 
Shullabar, Laman and Rhoda Rowe. 
Tandy, Thomas and Betsey Austin. 



CiniONlCLhS OF KKiHTKKN IllNDKEU AND FuUIt. 41 



Thornton, Josliuji and Klizabeth Burns. 
Thomas, (Jeorge and Anno Morse. 
Throemer, Philip and Deborali Morse. 
Tucker, David and Eliza Adams. 
Thurston, John P. and Polly Tucker. 
VV^arren, William and Patience Trip. 
Wheelwright. Jonathan and Sarah Anderson. 
Wright, Boston and Betsey Johnson. 
Wliite, Thomas J. and Polly Shepherd. 
Winslow, Joseph and Charlotte AVood N. Noyes. 
Walton, Mark and Sally Newman. 
Yeaton, John and Nancy Burton. 
Young, John and Fanny Fowler. 

DEATHS IN PORTLAND * 

Adams,^ Aaron, aged 27. Gookm, Samuel 75. 

Alden, i\Irs. Elizabeth 74. Gookin, Mrs. Sarah 72. 

Bagley, Mrs. Mary 66. George, Daniel 45. 

Brazier, Enoch 43. Hodgkins, Samuel 53. 

Clough, Mrs. Sally 54. Hants, Mrs. Jane 
Chamberlain, Mrs. Anna 36. Hosseac, Mrs. Eliza 45. 

Curvin, Nicholas 70. Knight, Mrs. Rebecca 49. 

Dean,^ Eliphalet Kelley, John 

Dyer, Mrs. Sally 27. Lewis, Mrs. Rebecca 27. 

Eskildson, Miss Lydia 16. Motley, Mrs. Nancy 25. 

Fosdick, Henry 21. Mayland, John 19. 

Fling, John M'Lellan, Mrs. Mary 63. 

Gould, Jacob 85. Noyes, Mrs. Betsey 65. 



* In no cases have we inserted i Mr. Adams was drowned at Ports- 
deaths of children under the age of mouth, 
ten years. The names of a few citi- a Mr. Dean died in Boston, 
zeng who died abroad have been given. 

6 



1 804 



42 CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND FOUR. 



1804. 



Prentiss, Mrs. Abba 22. Smith, Benjamiu 24. 

Partridge, Elizabeth 41. Shattuck, Miss Milly 19. 

Pote, Mary 53. Shaw, Josiah 53. 

Pierce, Samuel 70. Smith, Capt. Lendall 32. 

Pettingell, Daniel 67. Titcomb," Moses 20 
Richardson, Mrs. Eunice 26. Vaughan, Mrs. Hannah 42. 

Smith,^ Capt. David 29. Vaughan, James 44. 

Stevens, William S. 27. Walton, Mrs. Hannah 

The number of Marriages in Portland, this year 
was 104. Number of Births, 150. Number of Deaths, 
— Males, 24 ; Females, 28 ; Children, under 12 years, 
83. Total, 135. 



1 Capt. Smith died at Port Anto- He was a member of Harvard Uni- 
nia, Jamacia. versity. 

2 Mr. Titcomb died at Cambridge. 



GEORGE BURROUGHS. 



The father of Burroughs — ho graduates — comes to Falmouth — is driven froui 
his house by the Indians — goes to Bangs's Ishmd — Henry Jocelyn — ho is 
appointed Deputy Governor — removes to Front's Neclv — is appointed Sen- 
ior Justice — retires to Pemaquid — removes to Plymouth — lie marries the 
widow Commoek — becomes embarrassed — his son Henry — John Jocel^Ti — 
Brian Pendleton — his letter — Anthony and Thomas Brackett — Major Wal- 
dron — settles at Dover — representative to the General Court — his stratagem 
— sends two hundred Indians to Boston — revenge of the savages — strata- 
gem of the Indians — Mesandowit — bravery of Waldron — his ])ainful death — 
Bryan Pendleton a representative — he removes to Portsmouth — settles iu 
Saco — appointed Sergeant ]\Iajor — his death — his children — Mr. Burroughs 
goes to Salem village — jireaches — his salary — he leaves Salem and returns 
to Falmouth — his liberality — he retreats to Wells — is accused of ■\\dtchcraft 
— the indictment — witnessess — his trial — singular testimony of the bewitched 
— his feats of strength — Elizur Kej'sar's testimony — holding a gun at arm's 
length — Ruck's testimony — the vei-dict of the court — the sentence of death 
passed upon him — he declares his innocence — addresses the people — repeats 
the Lord's prayer before his death — his childreu^-descendants — Isaiah 
Thomas. 



George Burroughs was the son of Jeremiah Bur- 
roughs of Scituate, Massachusetts. He graduated at 
Harvard University in 1670, and was admitted a mem- iTto". 
ber of the church in Roxbury, April 12, 1074. He 
had his .son George baptized there, November 28, 1675. 
He came to Fahnouth in 1674 and preached to the 
people, when, probably, there were not more than forty 
or fifty families in town. His house stood a little 
south of the First Parish Church, probably not far from 
where the Market House now stands, from which he 
was driven by the Indians, August 11th, 1676. He 
escaped to Andrews's [Bangs's] Island and immediate- 



44 



GEORGE r.rRKOUGHS. 



1 676 



]y sent a letter to Ileiiiy Jocelyn/ of Black Point, for 
assistance. On the receipt of this letter Major Brian 
Pendleton, of Saco, addressed a line to the " Honour- 
ed Governor and Counsell for the Matachusets at Bos- 
ton, with all speed," dated " Winter Harbour, at night, 
the 13 of August, 1676," of which the following is a 
copy : 



Honoured Governor, 

together with the counsell : 

I am sorry my pen must bee the messenger of 
soe greate a tragedye. On the 11 of this instance wee 
heard of many killed of our naybors in Falmouth, or 
CascoBay; and on the 12 instant, Mr. Joslyn sent 
mee a briefe letter written fi'om under the hands of 
Mr. Burras. [Burroughs.] liee gives an account of 
32 killed and carried away by the Indians : himselfe 
escaped to an Island, but I hope Black poynt men have 



1 This name is sometimes spelt Jos- 
selyn, Joscelyu, and Joslin. Henry 
Jocelyn came from England, about 
the year 1634. He was one of the 
commissioners of Gorges's court, held 
at Saco in March, 1636 — this being 
the first organized government in the 
State, when Mr. Vines left the coun- 
try, so high was the standing of Mr. 
Jocelyn that he was ajijwinted Depu- 
ty Governor the remainder of the 
year. About the year 1643, he remov- 
ed to Front's neck, Scarborough, where 
he lived for a period of twenty-five 
years. When the king's commission- 
ers, in 1665, undei'took to form a gov- 
ernment for Maine and Sagadahock, 
he M'as appointed Senior Justice for 
both Provinces. In 1668, when Mas- 
sachusetts resitmed her authority, he 
retired to Pemaquid, where he lived 
till the breaking out of King Philip's 
war in 1675, when he removed to the 
Plymouth colony and there passed the 



remainder of his days. Mr. Jocelyn 
nuirried the widow of Thomas Com- 
mock — who had a grant in 1630 of 
fifteen hundred acres between the riv- 
er Spurwink and Black Point, includ- 
ing Stratton's Island, now known by 
the name of Blufi" Island. Conimoi k 
died on a voyage to the West Indies 
in 1643, having previously conveyed 
five hundred acres of his estate to his 
wife, and the residue to Henry Joce- 
lyn — he dying childless. Previous to 
the removal of Jocelyn from Prout's 
neck, he became embarrassed in his 
circumstances and assigned his prop- 
erty to Joshua Scottow of Boston, 
who afterwards occupied the estate. 
Mr. Jocelyn left one son. Ilcni-y, mIio 
became the father of thirteen children. 
While Mr. Jocelyn resided at Prout's 
neck, his lirother John spent nearly a 
year with him, collecting facts for a 
work, now very rare, entitled " Voyag- 
es," published about the year 1672. 



GEOKGE BURROUGHS. 



45 



fetched him of by this time. 10 men, 6 women, and 
16 children. Anthony^ ad [and] Thomas Baket, 
[Brackett] and Mr. Munjoy, his sonne onely are 
named. I had not time to coppye the letter, persons 
beinge to goe post to major Walden ;- but I hope he 
hath, before this, sent the originall to yon. How soon 
it will be our portion wee know not. The Lord, in 
mercy, fit us for death and direckt y'' harts and hands 
to ack and doe wt. [what] is most needfull in such a 
time of distress as this. Thus, in haste, I commit you 



1 67C. 



1 Anthony Bvackett was then sup- 
posed to be killed, but he was only 
made a prisoner and afterwards escap- 
ed from the savai^es. 

2 Kiehard Waldron came from En- 
gland in 1G35, and settled in Dover, 
N. H. He commenced a plantation at 
Cocheco (Dover) in 1640. For twen- 
ty two years he was representative to 
the General Court and for several 
years s])eaker of the house and presi- 
dent. In the Indian war of 1676. 
whilst " Sergent Maior," he received 
instructions to seize all the Indians 
concerned in the war. Foiu- hundred 
natives assembled at his house. The 
English wished to attack them Imt 
Major Waldron wished to take them 
by stratagem. He ])roposcd a sham 
fight and after the Indians had fired 
the first volley he nuide them all pris- 
oners. He dismissed the friendly In- 
dians and retained about two hun- 
dred and sent them to Boston. Some 
of them were hung and others sold as 
slaves in foreign parts, while a few 
made their esca])e. The course pur- 
sued by the Major awoke feelings of 
revenge in the breasts of the savages, 
which was not gratified till the exjiira- 
tion of more than twelve years. When 
King William's war l>roke out in 
North Yarmouth and other places, in 
August, 1688, the following stratagem 
was adopted by the Indians for the 
taking of Dover. T^\'0 squaws were 
sent to each garrisoned house in tlie 
evening to ask for lodging, for the pur- 
pose of opening the doors and the 
gates in the night : the signal to be 
given by a whistle. The plan being 



ripe for execution, on Thursday, the 
27th of June, 1689, two squaws ap- 
plied to each garrison for lodging and 
were admitted. Mesandowit, a chief, 
was kindly entertained by Waldron, 
as he had often been before. Mesan- 
dowit, while at supper, familiarly ask- 
ed the Major, what he would do if 
the strange Indians should come 1 He 
replied that by lifting his finger he 
could assemble a hundred men. When 
all was quiet the signal was given and 
the doors were opened. The Indians 
entered Waldron's apartment. Hear- 
ing the noise, he jitmped out of bed, 
seized his sword and with much vigor 
the bi'ave old man drove them through 
two or three rooms. As he was retir- 
ing for his other arms, he was seized 
from behind, stunned with a blow from 
a hatchet, forced into his haU and put 
into an elbow chair, which was placed 
upon a table, they insultingly asking 
him, — " Who shall judge Indians 
now ;" They obliged the people in 
the house to get them victuals, after 
eating which they struck the Major 
across the breast with a knife, each one 
as he cut, exclaiming, " I cross out my 
account." They cut off" his ears and 
nose and forced them into his mouth. 
When, Mcak with loss of l)lood, he 
was falling from the table, an Indian 
held his sword under him, which pierc- 
ed him to the heart, and he immedi- 
ately died. Major Waldron wa,s 
eighty years of age. The Indians al- 
so killed his son-in-law, Abraham Lee, 
and set his house on fire. In all there 
were twenty-three persons killed and 
twenty-nine taken captives. 



4() GEORGE BURROUGHS. 

f^rr to Pvdounce [the Providence] of our Lord God and 
desire your prayers also for us. Yours in all humility 
to sarve in 

the Lord, 

Brian Pendleton.* 

Mr. Burroughs went to Salem village, Danvers, and 
16 80. succeeded Mr. Bayley in November, 1G80. His sala- 
ry was sixty pounds a year, to be paid him, one third 
in money, and two thirds in provisions, as follows : rye, 
barley, and malt at three shillings a bushel, corn at 
two shillings, beef at one and a half pence a pound, 
pork at two pence and butter at six pence. In conse- 
quence of some dispute v/ith his parish, he left them, 
and in May, 16 S3, Mr. Lawson was invited to fill his 
place. The same year, Mr. Burroughs returned to 
Falmouth. At a general meeting of the inhabitants, 
held the 20th of June, 1683, the following record is 
made : " Whereas there was formerly given to Mr. 
George Burroughs, minister, a parcel of land, judged 
to be about two hundred acres, and we being driven 
off by the Indians for a time, and in time reinhabit- 
ing : therefore, for to give people incouragement to 
come and settle down among us in a body, we took 



1 Brian Pendleton settled in Water- ministration. He died in 16S1, aged 
towa. about the year 1 630, when he eighty ; leaving two children. His 
was thirty-one years of age. For six son James removed to Stonington, 
years he represented the town in the Conn., and died, lea^'ing four sons and 
General Court. He afterwards re- one daughter, who married, in 1665, 
moved to Portsmoutli and engaged in Rev. Seth Pletcher, minister of Wells, 
commerce. He represented that town and who was afterwards settled in Sa- 
fer five years. He purchased two co. Pendleton Fletcher, their only 
hundred acres of land in Saco, near child, was taken captive no less than 
Winter Harbor, where he settled in four times by the Indians, and when 
1665. He was appointed Seargent- he died, in 1747, he left six sons, whose 
major of the military and held several descendants have spread over the 
offices under President Danforth's ad- Union. 



GEORGE BURROUGHS. 47 

part of said BuiTongh's land, formerly given him by "^^^ 
the people of Falmouth, for the end before exprest." 
Tliis land, amounting to about one hundred and seven- 
ty acres, Mr. Burroughs freely relinquished, at the re- 
quest of the town, which shows the liberal and disin- 
terested spirit of the man. He even offered to give 
them twenty acres more, if they wished it, without ac- 
cepting in return, their offer of one hundred acres, 
some distance off. 

Mr. Burroughs continued to preach to the people of 
Falmouth, until the year 1G90, " when the town was 
sacked by the Indians," and he retreated to Wells. 
But a severe trial awaited him. He was one of the 
unhappy number who fell victims to that extraordina- 
ry delusion of the seventeenth century, witchcraft. 
The indictment against him was as follows : 

The jurors for our sovereign lord and lady, the king 
and queen, present, that George Burroughs, late of 
Falmouth, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in 
New England, clerk, the 9th day of May, in the fourth 
year of the reign of our sovereign lord and lady, Wil- 
liam and Mary, by the grace of God, of England, Scotr 
land, France, and Ireland, king and queen, defenders 
of the faith, &;c. and divers other days and times, as 
well before as after certain detestable acts, called 
witchcraft and sorceries, wickedly and feloniously hath 
used, practised, and exercised, at and within the town- 
ship of Salem, in the County of Essex aforesaid, in, 
upon, and against one Mary Wolcott, of Salem village, 
in the County of Essex, single woman, by which said 
wicked arts, the said Mary Wolcott, on the 9th day of 



48 GEORGE BURROUGHS. 



1 690 



May, ill the fourth year aforesaid, and divers other 
days and times, as well before as after, was and is tor- 
tured, afflicted, pined, consumed, wasted, and torment- 
ed, against the peace of our sovereign lord and lady, 
the king and queen, and against the form of the stat- 
ute made and provided. 

Witnesses : Mary Wolcott, Sarah Bibber, Mercy 
Lewis, Ann Putman, Elizabeth Hubl)ard. 

There was a second indictment, for afflicting Eliza- 
beth Hubbard. The witnesses were Elizabeth Hub- 
bard, Mary Wolcott, and Ann Putman. A third in- 
dictment was for aflfHcting Mercy Lewis. The witness- 
es were Mercy Lewis, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Hub- 
bard and Ann Putman. The fourth indictment was 
for acts of witchcraft on Ann Putman. The witness- 
es were Ann Putman, Mary Wolcott, Elizabeth Hub- 
bard, and Mary Warren. 

In prosecuting the charges against Mr. Burroughs, 
he was accused by five or six of the bewitched as the 
author of their miseries, and by eight of the confess- 
ing witches, as being a head leader at some of their 
hellish resorts. He had the promise of being a king 
in Satan's kingdom. He was also accused by nine 
persons for extraordinary feats of strength, which 
could not have been accomplished by man, without the 
assistance of the devil. In all, about thirty witnesses 
were called in to testify against him and scores more 
might have been produced, but these were adjudged 
sufficient to fi:x upon him the character of a witch. 

One of the females bewitched, testified that in her 
distress, a little black haired man appeared to her say- 
ing his name was Burroughs. He bid her put her 



GEOKOE BURROUGHS. 49 

hand npfni ;i l)ook, -wliich Tvns «;]ioAvn to lior. making TJT^ 
his boasls that ho was a conjuror ahovo Iho common 
order of witches. Bocanse she rcfnsed to do as she 
was bidden, cruel pains were inflicted upon her. 8ome 
times the prints of teeth would l)e seen on her arms. 
which prints corresponded exact I}' with the tcotli of 
Mr. Burroughs. Others testified to the same thing. 
When they cried that George Burroughs was biting 
them, the print of his teeth would immediately be 
seen on their flesh. 

Another female testified, that George Burroughs 
had taivon her into a very high mountain and showed 
her mighty kingdoms, which were promised to her if 
she would but write in his book ; but on her refusal, 
she suffered excruciating pains. Another testified 
that Burroughs tempted her to go to a sacrament, 
when she perceived him with a trumpet, sounding it 
loud to summon other witches, who immediately came 
from all quarters to the rendezvous. 

Several others testified, that they had been troubled 
with the apparitions of two women, who stated that 
the}^ were the wives of Mr. Burroughs and that he had 
been the cause of their death. They were told by the 
spirits to inform the magistrate of the fact, when he 
should be on trial, or they should themselves appear in 
court. They were also informed, that Mr. Burroughs 
had killed, in addition to several others, a Mrs. Law- 
son and her daughter. It wns noticed by the court 
that these persons were the wife and daughter of one 
with whom Mr. Burroughs might have had a prejudice. 

A man by the name of Elizur Keysar, forty years 
of age, testified that he had been called to see Mr. 



50 GEORGE BURROUGHS. 



1690 



• Burroughs on some business, when he fixed his eyes 
intently upon him. The same evening, while Keysar 
was in his own house, in a room where there was no 
light, he saw strange appearances in the chimney, 
which seemed to him to be something like jelly that 
used to be in the water. He supposed he saw a dozen 
of them, which strangely quivered and then disappear- 
ed. During the evening he saw a light up the chim- 
ney, about the bigness of a hand, which seemed to be 
in motion. His maid saw the same, but his wife look- 
ed and could not see it He concluded it was some 
diabolical operation. 

One of the witnesses was thrown into a state of 
horror, upon seeing the ghosts of Mr. Burroughs's 
wife, which then appeared before him crying for ven- 
geance. Other witnesses being called in, affirmed that 
they saw the same spirits before them. 

The testimony of several individuals w^as received, 
who testified that they had been witches themselves, 
and that George Burroughs had been to witch-meet- 
ings with them — that he had first seduced them into 
the snares of wdtchery — that he had promised them 
fine clothing — that he had brought thorns to them, for 
the afflicting of people, and that he exhorted them to 
bewitch all Salem village. It was testified, that al- 
though Mr. Burroughs was a small man, he had taken 
up a gun, the barrel of which was seven feet in length, 
and held it out at arm's length — that he made nothing 
of taking up barrels of cider and molasses and carry- 
ing them off, through most difficult places. Two of 
the witnesses testified that Mr. Burroughs, by merely 
putting the fore finger of his right hand into the 



GEORGE BURROUGHS. 51 

muzzle of a heavy sjun, would hold it out at arm's rrrr 

^ <^ ' 1690. 

length — a gun too, which the defendants could not 
lift up and hold out at the but-end. It was further 
testified, that he kept his two wives in a sort of slave- 
ry — that he often brought them to the point of death 
by his severity — that he made his neighbors promise, 
in the case of their death, never to reveal his actions, 
and that his wives had privately complained to their 
neighbors, respectmg the frightful spirits that infested 
the house. 

A brother-in-law of Mr. Burroughs, by the name of 
Ruck, testified that he, in company with Mr. B. and 
his wife, went two or three miles to gather strawber- 
ries. While Ruck and his sister were returning home. 
Burroughs stepped aside in the bushes, whereupon 
they halted and hallooed for him, but receiving no 
reply, they rode home, with a quickened pace. When 
near the house, they discovered Mr. Burroughs on foot, 
having a basket of strawberries in his hand. He com- 
menced chiding his wife, on account of her conversa- 
tion — he stating that he knew their thoughts. Ruck 
intimated that the devil himself did not know as 
much ; but Burroughs replied that God had made 
known to him their thoughts. The prisoner at the 
bar remarked that Ruck left a man with him, which 
was pronounced to be false. The court thought he 
merely stepped aside to receive the assistance of the 
devil. 

Upon such testimony, the jury brought Mr. Bur- 
roughs in guilty, and the sentence of death was passed 
upon him. 

Probably, a more upright, conscientious, Christian 



^y^ (JEORGE BL'lUtOUGILS. 



1 fi 9 2 



man than George BiuTouglis never lived. There i.s 
not, perhaps, an act of his life, that would bring re- 
proach upon his character. He was just, benevolent, 
and pious — yet an eminent New England divine, co- 
temporary with him, thus speaks in reference to his 
supposed criminality and trial : " His tergiversations, 
contradictions, and falsehoods were very sensible. 
Faultering, faulty, unconstant, and contrary answers, 
upon judicial and deliberate examination, are counted 
some unlucky symptoms of guilt in all crimes, espec- 
ially in witchcrafts. Now there never was a prisoner 
more eminent for them than George Burroughs, both 
at his examination and on his trial. Glad should I 
have been, if I had never known the name of this 
man, or never have had this occasion to mention so 
much as the first letters of his name." 

George Burroughs was publicly executed, with five 
others, on the 19th of August, 1692. His age was 
not far from sixty. He declared his innocence to the 
last ; but it was in vain, so great Avas the infatuation 
that prevailed. Just before his execution, he made an 
address, still asserting that he was innocent of the 
charges brought against him, and, in his dying prayer, 
repeated the Lord's prayer, probably, to vindicate his 
character — as it was the current opinion, that a witch 
could not correctly repeat this prayer. His supplica- 
tion to God was uttered with so much composure and 
fervency, that it drew tears from the scores who came 
to witness his death. 

Mr. Burroughs left a third wife — the sister of Thom- 
as Ruck, who was a witness against him — and several 
children. His daughter Rebecca married Mr. Tolman, 



GEORGE BURROUGHS. 



OO 



oi' Boston ; IJunuah married Mr. Fox, of the saine " 

1692. 

place ; but we know not the name of the Imsband of 
Mary ; and Elizabeth married Peter Thomas, of Bos- 
ton, the ancestor of the late Isaiah Thomas,^ L L. D. 
of Worcester. The names of his two sons were 
George and Jeremiah. 



1 Itsaiah Tfiomus was the son of Mo- 
ses Thomas. He was born in Boston 
in 1749. His father died when he was 
young. At tlie age of six years ho 
was put out as an apprentiee to Z. 
Fowle, with whom he remained eleven 
years. In 1770, he eommenced in 
Boston the publication of the Massa- 
chusetts Spy, in wiiich paper he pub- 
lished many spirited articles against 
tlic oppressive laws of the British Par- 
liament towards the New England 
Colonies. In 1771, Governor Hutch- 
inson and Council, on account of an 
article that appeared in the Spy, en- 
deavored to bring Air. Thomas before 
them — but so much resistance was 
made that the measure was tinally 
dropped. In 1775, he removed his 



paper to Worcester, and three years 
after opened a bookstore in Boston. 
At one time he had under his control 
sixteen presses in use and eight book- 
stores. He issued a folio edition of 
the Bible in 1791. In the latter part 
of his life, JMr. Thomas founded the 
American Antiquarian Society, for 
which he erected a brick house at 
Worcester — of wliich society he was 
])resident and a most liberal patron. 
The honorary degree of Doctor of 
Laws was conferred u])on him liy the 
Alleghany College, Pennsylvania. He 
published in 1810, in two volumes, oc- 
tavo, a valuable History of Printing 
in America, which evinces great re- 
search. He died at AVorcester, April 
4, 1831, aged 82 years. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED 

AND SEVEN. 



William Symmes — Maine bank broken open — Rev. Mr. Noyes — Nathaniel 
Knights — shock of an earthquake — Abigail Taylor — night watch — William 
Thompson — Jonathan Scott — his house consumed — Zephaniah Harding — 
freshets — the mail stage swept away — Samuel Foxcroft — annual town meet- 
ing — officers chosen — votes for Governor — votes respecting the separation 
of Maine from Massachusetts — centre school house — marriage of Jotham 
Davis — Pendleton Fletcher — thunder storm — stage struck by lightning — 
shock of an earthquake — Dr. Morrell attacked by a steer — Representatives 
to the General Court — Mehitable Meserve — singular death of William Ste- 
phens — Supreme Court — trial of Joseph Donnough — attorneys admitted to 
practice — Anthony Morse — accident on Fort Hill — Cotton street laid out — 
Bank street — high way robbers — Portland Lodge — fourth of July celebration 
— loss of the schooner Charles on the rocks near Richmond's Island — list of 
the drowned — Joseph Williams — death of Joseph M'Keen — Commodore 
Preble — John Baker — Alexander Munroe — Dolly Taylor — Capt. David 
Smith — his severe afflictions and losses — Benevolent Society — John Patter- 
son — Josiah Converse — William Tyng — Thomas Hopkins—Judge Wilde — 
ordination of Edward Payson — merchants in Portland — dwelling houses 
built — population — marriages — deaths. 

January 7. William Symmes, Esq. Counsellor at 
Law, died, aged 45 years. Mr. Symmes was the son 
of Rev. Wniiam Symmes,^ D. D. of Andover, Massa- 
chusetts. He pursued his legal studies in Essex, Mas- 
sachusetts, and was admitted to the bar in that County, 
and his admission was recognised by the^ Cumberland 
bar at the October term in 1790, soon after he came to 
Portland. Mr. Symmes was a member of the conven- 



1 Dr. Symmes graduated at Har- dover in 1758, and died in'l 807, aged, 

vard college in 1755, and for the fol- 77 years. He published an election 

lowing three years was a tutor in that sermon and two other occasional ser- 

institution. He was ordained at An- mons. 



CHRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN. 55 



tion that adopted the federal constitution, to which he 
and his constituents were at first opposed ; but when 
he heard the able arguments in its favor, he was 
couAdnced of his error and resolved not to oppose it. 
He returned to his constituents and repeated the able 
arguments which had convinced him of his en'or, and 
told them that he could not, conscientiously, oppose 
the constitution. This honorable course excited their 
approbation, and after a general consultation with the 
people of Andover, they desired him to return to the 
convention and vote according to the dictates of his 
own conscience, and they would acquiesce in the re- 
sult. He did so, and defended himself in an able 
speech to that learned body, and voted for the adop- 
tion of the constitution. 

As a lawyer, Mr. Symmes ranked high among his 
cotemporaries. He was an able and eloquent advo- 
cate. He also possessed a highly cultivated literary 
taste. A series of his articles, entitled " Communica- 
tions," written about the year 1795, in defence of the 
common law against the political fanatics of that day, 
were masterly productions and were republished in the 
principal papers of the Union. Mr. Symmes, with 
several other distinguished gentlemen, contributed to 
make the periodicals of this period interesting and 
valuable. 

Mr. Symmes had no family of his own, but he was 
zealously interested in the education of youth. 

January 12. The Maine Bank was broken into 
Saturday evening and robbed of about two thousand 
dollars. An Irishman was apprehended and a part 
of the money discovered under a barn, concealed in 
an old pair of pantaloons. 



1807 
Jan 



'36 OTIRONICLES OF EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN. 

,"^^ January 16. Rev. Mr. Noyes died in Gorhaiu. 
j,^^ He was a native of Newbuiyport, and graduated at 
Harvard college in 1799. He had been settled in 
Gorham four years. 

The town voted to employ eight men on the night 
watch — four of whom were to be on the watch at a 
time, till the first of April, at an expense of seven 
hundred dollars. 
Feb. February 1. Died in Scarborough, Hon. William 
Thompson, Chief Justice of the Court of General Ses- 
sions of the Peace for the County of Cumberland. He 
was a man of uprightness and piety. 

February 8. The dwelling house of Rev. Jonathan 
Scott, of Minot, was consumed by fire. A son twelve 
years of age perished in the flames. An older son es- 
caped by jumping from the chamber window. 

February 13. Mr. Zephaniah Harding died in Gor- 
ham, aged 70 years. He fell dead at his door. He 
was a soldier in the French war of 1758, and kept by 
him, till the day of his death, a tomahawk and scalp- 
ing knife which he took from the enemy. 

February 19. The wife and child of Mr. Nathan- 
iel Knights were drowned in attempting, with a horse 
and sleigh, to cross the unrailed bridge at Little Falls 
in Windham. The horse started from a sudden fright, 
when Mr. Knights sprang from the sleigh and attempt- 
ed to stop the horse, but his efforts were ineffect- 
ual. 

A shock of an earthquake was felt in town about 
half past one o'clock. Its duration was about thirty 
seconds. Its direction appeared to be from north-east 
to south-west. 



